.British general says Iraq has not sought force removal
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Iraqi government has not asked for the removal of British troops from southern Iraq, despite a report that Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki believes combat forces are no longer needed in the region, a top British commander said on Wednesday.
"The Iraqi government haven't communicated that sentiment to me," said Maj. Gen. Andy Salmon, the British commander of multinational forces in southeastern Iraq.
Salmon, who commands most of the 4,100 British troops in Iraq, said Iraqi military officials continue to seek the training and joint-operational assistance his soldiers have been providing to local security forces.
He was speaking after the Times of London quoted Maliki as saying there was no longer a need for British troops to maintain security and control in the mainly Shi'ite region.
"I know that he (Maliki) feels we don't need combat troops in Basra. And, of course, we haven't got combat troops in Basra," Salmon told Pentagon reporters in a video link from Iraq.
British forces left their base in the southern city of Basra last year for a base on city's outskirts.
Salmon said the training of Iraqi security forces is "primarily the effort that we're involved in right now. Partnering, training, giving that kind of assistance."
"I spoke with the Iraqi commander last night to get his sentiment and feel for all of that, and those are the sorts of things he really feels he needs to enable Iraqi security forces to sustain security into the future," the general said.
Britain was U.S. President George W. Bush's main ally in the March 2003 American-led invasion of Iraq that toppled Saddam Hussein from power.
British troops have helped train the Iraqi army and navy, while a special forces unit based in Baghdad has been used to strike at militants from al Qaeda and other groups.
Reuters
"The Iraqi government haven't communicated that sentiment to me," said Maj. Gen. Andy Salmon, the British commander of multinational forces in southeastern Iraq.
Salmon, who commands most of the 4,100 British troops in Iraq, said Iraqi military officials continue to seek the training and joint-operational assistance his soldiers have been providing to local security forces.
He was speaking after the Times of London quoted Maliki as saying there was no longer a need for British troops to maintain security and control in the mainly Shi'ite region.
"I know that he (Maliki) feels we don't need combat troops in Basra. And, of course, we haven't got combat troops in Basra," Salmon told Pentagon reporters in a video link from Iraq.
British forces left their base in the southern city of Basra last year for a base on city's outskirts.
Salmon said the training of Iraqi security forces is "primarily the effort that we're involved in right now. Partnering, training, giving that kind of assistance."
"I spoke with the Iraqi commander last night to get his sentiment and feel for all of that, and those are the sorts of things he really feels he needs to enable Iraqi security forces to sustain security into the future," the general said.
Britain was U.S. President George W. Bush's main ally in the March 2003 American-led invasion of Iraq that toppled Saddam Hussein from power.
British troops have helped train the Iraqi army and navy, while a special forces unit based in Baghdad has been used to strike at militants from al Qaeda and other groups.
Reuters
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